🍸 Shaken…NEVER Stirred, and Unapologetically Dirty: A Toast to National Martini Day

Let’s raise our glasses—today we celebrate National Martini Day, the holy grail of cocktail culture and the drink that has never, not once, gone out of style. Equal parts elegance and edge, the martini isn’t just a beverage—it’s a statement. Now, I think I’ll have one for lunch.

A Splash of History

The true origin of the martini is still a matter of spirited debate (pun intended). One theory traces its beginnings to the 1860s in Martinez, California, where a bartender whipped up a cocktail of gin, vermouth, and bitters for a gold miner on his way to San Francisco. Others point to a more refined start at New York City’s Knickerbocker Hotel, where the martini emerged in its drier, sleeker form at the turn of the century. By the roaring 1920s, the martini had become the poster child of the Jazz Age—crisp, cold, and scandalously strong. Hollywood's golden age only elevated its image further. It’s been the cocktail of choice for everyone from FDR to James Bond, and it still commands respect every time it’s served, preferably in a chilled coupe glass.

My Take? Refined, Dirty, and Absolutely Vermouth-Free

Now, we all have our preferences when it comes to this iconic libation—but let me be crystal clear:
✨ Vodka. Up.
✨ A splash of olive brine.
✨ Two blue cheese–stuffed olives.
✨ And not even a whisper of that cheap, bottled mix masquerading as olive juice.
✨ Vermouth? Absolutely not.

Unless, of course, we’re talking about the Marthatini—the effortlessly elegant signature cocktail from The Bedford by Martha Stewart in Las Vegas. That’s the only exception I’ll make. If Martha’s pouring it, I’ll sip it. AAAND, if I must surrender to gin? Then it’s a Gibson Martini for me—dry, refined, and garnished with a pickled pearl onion. Sophistication with a side of surprise. I mean, you know me. Would you remotely expect something different?

Why the Martini Endures

In a world of overly complicated cocktails and gimmicky garnishes, the martini remains timeless. It doesn’t need smoke, glitter, or a flaming sprig of rosemary. It just needs precision, quality ingredients, and someone with good taste to order it. Martinis aren’t for the indecisive. They’re not for the faint of liver. They’re for those who know what they want—and expect it to be chilled, clean, and prepared with respect.

So on this National Martini Day, I raise a glass to the classics, to good taste, and to never settling for ordinary.